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10-Q2025-07-30· merged:deepseek-v4-flash

WAY · Waystar Holding Corp.

0001990354-25-000012

SEC filing

Summary

Waystar delivered 15.4% revenue growth in Q3 2025, driven by subscription and volume-based gains, with net income turning positive.

Key takeaways

Full analysis

Period Performance

Period Performance

Waystar reported strong results for the three months ended June 30, 2025. Revenue grew 15.4% to $270.7 million, driven by a 16.7% increase in subscription revenue ($131.1M) and a 14.4% increase in volume-based revenue ($138.3M). Subscription revenue, almost entirely from provider solutions, benefited from new and existing client additions. Volume-based revenue growth was led by patient payments solutions ($11.2M increase) and provider solutions ($6.2M increase).

Cost of revenue (excl. D&A) increased 8.2% to $87.0M, with higher transaction volume costs partially offset by savings in provider solutions. Operating expenses overall declined 9.1% due to a significant reduction in stock-based compensation ($25.4M decrease) from non-recurring performance condition options in the prior year. This drove operating income to $64.8M (24.0% margin) versus $8.2M (3.5% margin) in Q3 2024. Interest expense decreased 63.9% to $18.3M following the $1.0B debt repayment in 2024. Net income reached $32.2M compared to a net loss of $27.7M in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA rose to $112.6M (41.6% margin) from $93.9M (40.0% margin), reflecting operational leverage. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share was $0.36 versus $0.26. For the six-month period, results mirrored the quarterly trends with revenue up 14.8% and net income of $61.5M versus a net loss of $43.6M.

Segment Dynamics

Revenue is primarily generated from two sources: subscription (48.4% of Q3 revenue) and volume-based (51.1%). Subscription growth (17.3% YTD) is fueled by provider solutions, while volume-based growth (12.7% YTD) is driven by patient payment solutions. Cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue improved to 32.3% from 33.9% for the six-month period, with third-party costs for patient payment solutions at ~60% of related revenue and provider solutions at 6-8%. The Net Revenue Retention Rate improved to 114.6% from 107.5%, indicating strong client expansion. The number of clients generating over $100K revenue grew to 1,268 from 1,117.

Forward View

Waystar's MD&A highlights strategic priorities including expanding client relationships, growing the client base, and investing in AI. The pending acquisition of Iodine for $1.25B (expected close by year-end 2025) underscores a focus on AI-powered clinical intelligence. Management expects to recognize $17.9M in annual stock-based compensation from IPO awards. No specific financial guidance is provided, but the company anticipates continued growth driven by subscription and volume-based revenue, with Adjusted EBITDA margins expected to remain strong. The debt repayment has structurally lowered interest expense, contributing to profitability.

Notes & Operating Detail

Balance Sheet & Liquidity

Cash and cash equivalents rose sharply to $290.3M from $182.1M at year-end 2024, driven by strong operating cash flow of $161.0M in H1 2025. The company also established a new $50.5M investment securities portfolio, primarily in commercial paper and U.S. Treasuries, classified as available-for-sale. Total assets increased to $4.68B, with goodwill remaining flat at $3.02B. Shareholders' equity grew to $3.17B from $3.08B, supported by net income of $61.5M and stock-based compensation of $18.3M.

Commitments & Contractual Obligations

The Notes disclose no material purchase commitments or contractual obligations beyond normal operating leases and debt maturities. The company has an $80.0M receivables facility (fully drawn) maturing October 2026, and a $1.16B first lien term loan due 2029. Operating lease liabilities total $15.9M, with finance lease liabilities of $11.8M. A $1.25B acquisition of Iodine was announced post-quarter, with $625M in cash and 16.8M shares, subject to closing conditions.

Capital Allocation (buybacks, dividends, debt, capex)

No share repurchases or dividends were declared or paid during the period. The company repaid $5.8M of debt, primarily scheduled principal payments. Capital expenditures totaled $11.2M (2.1% of revenue), including $8.9M in capitalized software development costs. The company maintains a $1.24B total debt position, with no borrowings on its revolving credit facility.

Segment / Geographic Mix (if disclosed at note level)

The company operates as a single reportable segment. The CODM (CEO) reviews consolidated financials, with Net Income as the key profitability metric. Revenue is disaggregated into subscription ($256.1M), volume-based ($268.2M), and implementation/other ($2.7M) for H1 2025. No geographic breakdown is provided beyond the U.S. market.

Cash Flow Quality

Cash Flow Quality

Operating cash flow of $161.0M significantly exceeded net income of $61.5M, indicating strong cash generation from operations. The primary adjustments were depreciation and amortization ($66.8M) and stock-based compensation ($18.3M). Working capital provided a net positive of $4.9M, driven by a decrease in accounts receivable ($0.1M) and increases in accounts payable ($9.3M), partially offset by deferred costs ($5.1M). Capex of $11.2M represented a moderate 7% of CFO, leaving ample free cash flow for debt reduction and strategic investments. Investing activities included $50.5M in investment securities, a new item not present in the prior year. Financing activities were minimal, with $15.0M from stock option exercises and $5.8M in debt repayments. The company did not repurchase shares or pay dividends. Overall, the cash flow profile shows a transition to robust operating cash flow with disciplined capital spending.

Anomalies

Working capital changes were modest compared to the prior year, when a large increase in accounts receivable ($22.9M) constrained CFO. The prior period also included a $19.0M loss on debt extinguishment and $42.4M deferred tax benefit, which normalized in the current period. The purchase of investment securities is a notable use of cash not seen historically, potentially indicating a shift in treasury strategy.